Since the birth of the Marine Corps at Tun Tavern in 1775, Marines have engaged in up close and personal hand-to-hand combat in every climb and place they have fought. Historically, these battlefields have included places such as Tripoli, Belleau Wood, Guadalcanal, The Chosin Resivor, Hue City, and Mogadishu.

In the current Global War on Terror, Marines are hooking and jabbing in remote third world shit-holes such as Ramadi, Fallujah, Helmand, and countless unnamed caves high atop the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan.

Despite a modern military full of hi-tech weapons and unmanned aircraft, boots on the ground are still required to defeat our nation's enemies. Consequently, America's warriors find themselves with increasing regularity engaged in ferocious hand-to-hand, fight to the death combat. It was this realization that led me to contact the President of Ranger Up, Nick Palmisciano and run a crazy idea by him. - Let's put together a team of elite MMA fighters and trainers with the intention of teaching cutting edge MMA techniques to hundreds of Marines as they prepare to go down range to Afghanistan and Iraq. It became my personal mission to provide my fellow Marines with the tools and insight to kick Haji's ass!

Nick is a West Point graduate and former Army Ranger, so it was not surprising when he responded: "Let's do it".

Train The Troops MMA launched with a marathon series of events comprised of 3 days, 1,500 miles, 3 Marine bases, 12 pro fighters and trainers, and hundreds of Marines trained.

Through our relationships with top-level MMA fighters and trainers, Nick and I were able to put together a roster of fighters and trainers that would impress both the diehard and casual fans of MMA. We were genuinely fortunate to have some of the best fighters and trainers in MMA join us. Our roster included:

Matt Lindland - Owner Team Quest, Strikeforce fighter & MMA Icon Gray "The Bully" Maynard - Undefeated UFC Fighter and former fighter on TUF Tim Credeur - Former Navy Sailor, Owner of Gladiators Academy, current UFC Fighter, former fighter on TUF Tim Kennedy - Decorated Army Special Forces sniper, Strikeforce fighter, and all around bad ass Jorge "El Conquistador" Rivera - Former Army Cavalry scout, Owner of Rivera MMA, UFC fighter, former fighter on TUF Damacio "The Angel of Death" Page - WEC fighter currently ranked #7 in the world John "Voodoo" Walsh - pro MMA fighter and decorated Recon Marine cut from the same cloth as Gunny Tom Highway of Heartbreak Ridge fame Tim "Panda" Burrill - Owner of Tim Burrill Jiu jitsu and trainer of Jorge Rivera Matt Phinney - Striking instructor Rivera MMA gym and Jorge Rivera's striking instructor Tahi Burns - Two time Pan Am Games Jiu jitsu gold medal winner and owner of PKG gym in Los Angeles Seb Zewdie - Olympic boxing coach and striking instructor at PKG Chris Sepulveda - Pro MMA fighter and Jiu jitsu coach at PKG.

Our intrepid Train The Troops MMA team traveled to MCB Cam Pendleton, MCAS Miramar, and MCAS Yuma where we conducted six,...